For owners of small apartments, some unusual design solutions are a good way to optimize space. One of these ideas is a podium with a pull-out bed. This design significantly saves square meters. But, in addition to its advantages, it also has its disadvantages.
The advantages of such a structure include the following factors.
- Functionality.
During the day, the bed can be hidden under the podium and free up most of the living room or bedroom. At the same time, it will be possible to combine the recreation area, guest area and storage area.
- Zoning.
The podium visually and practically separates the sleeping area, which is especially important for one-room apartments and studios.
- Stylish solution.
For creative people who welcome everything new and unusual in design, this is a great opportunity to add a twist to a familiar interior.
The disadvantages of such a structure include the following points.
- Complexity of manufacture.
Making such a product is quite a troublesome business. If you do it yourself, you will need certain skills in furniture manufacturing, and such a design will not be cheap to order. But almost always, for lovers of modern interiors, the idea is worth the effort and money. The main thing is to take care of the reliability of the retractable mechanism and the strength of the frame, since regular daily use requires greater wear resistance;
- Not suitable for all rooms.
Despite the fact that the idea initially implied a solution to the problem of a small area, in reality its implementation does not always justify the initially set goal. And all because it is necessary to take into account a lot of nuances: features of the layout, ceiling height, location of window and door openings, niches, etc. In very small rooms, it is also better to abandon this idea. After all, in order to roll out the bed, there must be free space;
- Uncomfortable rest.
The bed will be located more often not near the wall, but almost in the middle of the bedroom, which will not be psychologically convenient for everyone. For some, it is important to sleep on a classic bed with a familiar headboard.
There are not so many disadvantages, but in some cases they can be a decisive obstacle to the implementation of the idea.
Content
Types of structures
The structures can be divided according to several criteria:
- by frame material;
- by functionality;
- by form;
- by height.
The frame can be metal or wooden. The second option is the most common.
According to the functional feature, beds are divided into simple and complex ones, with built-in storage systems. In addition to a pull-out bed, you can equip a podium and drawers for storing bed linen, pillows, blankets, which also saves space and helps to organize order.
The shape of the structure can be square, rectangular, asymmetrical, semicircular, etc. The height of the podium can be low (about 40 cm), medium (50-70 cm) and high (more than 70 cm).
Design features and options for use in the interior
There are a number of criteria for choosing a model:
- layout (Khrushchev-era, modern improved layout, etc.)
- dimensions, area;
- ceiling height;
- personal preferences.
All of the listed parameters must be taken into account simultaneously when choosing a product model and drawing up a sketch of the future design (if you plan to make it yourself).
Apartments in old buildings built before the 1990s are not very large, but some of them have high ceilings. In the rooms of such apartments, you can install a narrow, but higher than average podium, on which you can fit a compact work area. Such apartments also often have niches, which are not a very practical element of the layout from the point of view of furniture arrangement. By using the space in the niche in this way, you can easily solve this inconvenience.
In a room with ceilings below standard, it is recommended to install a podium of minimum height.
Modern apartments with improved layouts often feature fairly spacious rooms, which allows for the installation of a wider model.
The podium can combine several functional areas at once: a bedroom, a living room, a work or study area, etc. Built-in drawers, shelves, racks increase the variability of the product's use. This type of arrangement is relevant for families where several children share a room. For studio apartments, which are one of the best-selling types of housing in large cities today, this solution will allow you to organize the space wisely.
The location of the podium also plays a role. The sleeping area should be extended to a less illuminated part of the room so that the sun's rays do not interfere with proper rest. There are nuances with radiators too. By closing the heat source, you can negatively affect the heating of the room, especially if it is large in area.
Dimensions of the structure and sleeping area
There will be no problems in choosing a model for a large room. But owners of a small apartment or bedroom, in which this element is supposed to be installed, need to find a compromise between technical features and personal requests.
First of all, you should start from the basics - standards. This is the only thing that cannot be changed, because there are certain established dimensions that determine the comfort and quality of sleep. Our health also depends on it.
The standard size of a single bed for an adult is 190 x 80 cm (length and width respectively).
The standard size of a double bed is 200 by 160 cm.
The size of a child's sleeping area depends on age:
- for teenagers, the same parameters as for an adult are suitable;
- for a schoolchild up to 10-11 years old - 160 by 70 cm.
When making a bed with your own hands or to order, you can independently calculate the necessary width and length for yourself. The calculation is based on the height of a person and at least 20 cm is added. The standards provide an average width that will allow you to feel comfortable during sleep and rest. But you can increase this figure if the area allows you to install a podium with a king-size bed.
Now you can start defining the dimensions. There are no strict requirements or restrictions. The recommended minimum distance from the floor is 20 cm. Otherwise, there is complete freedom of choice in design.
The width and height of the podium will depend on the parameters of the room. For example, in a spacious bedroom, you can build a wide podium, placing a full-fledged guest area on it with sofas, armchairs and a coffee table. And in the case of high ceilings, you can install a high model with steps on which various accessories or other interior items are placed for decoration.
Selection of materials
Materials are selected for 3 constituent elements:
- frame;
- sheathing;
- fine finishing.
For a durable structure, choose a beam that is at least 4 cm thick. When buying, pay attention to the quality: there should be no unevenness, knots, or nicks. The board or beam must be dry.
For cladding, they purchase MDF boards, chipboards, and plywood. MDF is considered the highest quality material, but also the most expensive of those listed.
Chipboard can deform over time and will not last as long as desired. Plywood can be a compromise option when choosing average quality at an appropriate price.
For decoration and finishing, they mainly use the same materials that cover the rest of the floor in the room, for example, carpet, laminate, parquet, etc.
Podium with a bed made of MDF with your own hands
Before starting any work, a number of preparatory stages are carried out:
- decide on a model;
- prepare materials, tools;
- make a sketch, drawing of the future product according to individual measurements, based on the parameters of the room and the load.
If you do not have much experience in assembling such structures, it is recommended to take a simple example as a basis, which will be described below. Having understood the mechanism of the device and the principle of installation, based on the given master class, you can plan a model according to your dimensions.
The example provided assumes the production of a podium for a room with standard ceilings (2.5 m). The height of the finished product will be about 45 cm (including the mattress), which, according to the above parameters, is quite comfortable for a person of average height. The sleeping area will roll out on rollers. The dimensions in the example are conditional, according to your measurements in the store, select materials individually, taking only the construction principle as a basis.
To work you will need:
- MDF board in 2 copies. Choose a thickness of about 19 mm. Length and width - 2070 by 2620 mm;
- beam 40 x 60 mm and 25 m long;
- furniture board in 2 copies. The size is about 600×3000 mm. Thickness – 22 mm;
- PVA glue;
- furniture varnish;
- furniture casters (wheels) – 2 pcs.;
- screws, dowels.
Tools for work:
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- screwdrivers;
- jigsaw;
- milling machine;
- electric saw;
- roulette;
- clamp;
- grinding machine;
- sandpaper;
- ruler and pencil;
- roller and brush.
A set of some of the tools listed above will not be cheap, so if you are limited in funds, ask friends or acquaintances for them. Renting a tool will also be cheaper.
We perform installation in several stages. The first is installation of the base of the entire structure.
- Installing the frame.
The support structure is assembled along the wall. Mark the bed on the floor in advance so that the entire support can be assembled taking this place into account. A frame made of timber is laid along the contour.
To ensure that the frame fits tightly against the wall, remove the skirting board.
Along the perimeter of the proposed podium, pre-prepared vertical posts made of timber are installed on the frame, which will serve as a support. The pitch of the posts depends on the load.
The height of the posts must be calculated based on the dimensions of the podium and the thickness of the platform. It is equal to the height of the podium minus the double thickness of the timber.
- Horizontal beams are attached to the vertical supports. The base can also be reinforced by adding additional beams.
- The finished frame is mounted to the wall using dowels. The structure must be strong and reliable to withstand the weight of an adult.
- The frame is covered with MDF board. Compared to chipboard, this is a higher quality material, and the finished podium will look more presentable.
In accordance with the drawing, we cut out the necessary pieces of the plate and screw them to the frame with self-tapping screws. 
Podium bed made of laminated MDF for a teenage boy's room
- The production of the pull-out bed is done separately.
- Mark the bed on the board and the MDF board. Use a jigsaw to cut out the following elements: the bed base, the podium cover, and the sides from the furniture board. Sand the cut areas.
- The sides are fixed to the floor of the podium. And the flooring is fixed to the sides.
- Stiffening ribs are made from 40x60 mm timber and attached to the edges of the decking.
- Cover the entire structure of the future bed with varnish and only after it has completely dried can it be installed on the legs.
- We assemble a lattice for a mattress from slats.
- The bed front is cut out from the scraps of the slab and attached to the main frame with a screwdriver.
- Casters are screwed to the lower base of the pull-out bed to ensure mobility.
- The steps are cut out of the shield and secured with a screwdriver.
Additionally, the product can be painted, and the surface of the podium can be finished with laminate, parquet or carpet to match the main floor in the room.
Before final finishing, the entire surface must be thoroughly cleaned and sanded with a machine.
Video: Building a Podium in an Apartment
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